Andrew Fielding named new BIA president

Fielding, a BIA Queensland council member, replaces former independent director Darren Vaux, who was appointed to the role in 2019 after he replaced Alan Blake.

While Blake steered the BIA through a merger of the NSW, Queensland and South Australian branches during his almost seven-year tenure, Vaux has headed the industry group through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as kicking off merger talks with its Victorian equivalent.

Fielding said Vaux, who will continue his role on the board as a director, had made an outstanding contribution and had left a legacy of key strategic decisions that had put BIA in a strong position for the years ahead.

The BIA said Fielding had stepped into the role this week immediately after the BIA board voted in favour of his appointment.

According to the BIA, Fielding has worked in the marine industry for more than 30 years.

It said he came to the role with experience in yacht brokering, marine retail, wholesale and boat building.

Born and raised on the Gold Coast, Fielding has studied tourism and hospitality, and maritime logistics and management via the Australian Maritime College.

“Andrew is passionate about all aspects of the marine industry and is focused on seeing its future success. He is also an advocate for boating safety and responsible boat ownership, and getting more people into maritime careers,” the BIA said in a statement announcing Fielding’s appointment.

“Having spent the past 40-plus years living by or near the water, and having used the waterways on a daily basis for both recreational and business, Andrew is enthusiastic about ensuring our waterways are successfully managed so they can be enjoyed for generations to come and that Australian marine businesses and the industry as a whole prospers and grows well into the future,” it said.

As well as recreational boating, the BIA also represents the interests of light commercial boating.

This includes boat makers and importers, brokers, insurers, retailers, charters, yacht and boat clubs, marinas, events, designers, surveyors and trades from boat builders to riggers, and more. 

The BIA is an advocate for boaters and the boating lifestyle and supports safe, responsible, and enjoyable boating.

Last year, the BIA estoimated Australia’s recreational boating industry turned over more than $8.8 billion, with more than 27,000 people directly employed and another 10,000 contractors benefitting.

Three out of every four businesses in the industry are small family-owned enterprises.